KADEX 2026 Defense Exhibition Announced for October

The Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition, known as KADEX 2026, is scheduled to take place from October 6 to October 10, 2026, at Gyeryongdae in Chungcheongnam-do. Recognized as Asia’s largest land defense exhibition, the event is expected to reach the largest scale in its history, featuring 450 companies and 2,032 booths.

The exhibition will be hosted at Gyeryongdae, the unified tri-service headquarters that houses the headquarters of the South Korean Army, Navy, and Air Force. This location is strategically positioned near core military institutions, including the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which provides optimal accessibility for policy decision-makers and top-ranking military officials.

Official Support and Institutional Participation

KADEX 2026 is receiving official sponsorship from a wide array of major military and government agencies. Primary sponsors include the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, DAPA, and the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.

Technical and research support is provided by several specialized institutes, including the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning, the Korea Institute of Military Technology, and the Agency for Defense Development.

The event also involves broad coordination across various government bodies to facilitate international engagement and industrial growth. Supporting agencies include:

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Ministry of Science and ICT
• The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• The Ministry of SMEs and Startups
• The Public Procurement Service
• The Korea Aerospace Administration

Exhibition Scope and Strategic Objectives

The event will cover a massive area of 40,000 square meters, serving as an integrated defense platform for both weapon and non-weapon systems. While historically focused on ground forces, KADEX 2026 aims to strengthen jointness across all military branches and elevate the global standing of the South Korean defense sector through continuous innovation.

The exhibition is designed to facilitate official procurement meetings, government-to-government exchange events, and official invitations for overseas delegations. The focus extends to the future of military technologies, specifically highlighting innovations in AI, robotics, and unmanned systems.

Scheduled Programs and Events

Several specialized events are planned to run alongside the main exhibition to foster collaboration between military leadership and industry partners.

The event will include delegation business meetings attended by official VIPs and delegations from 30 countries, including Army Chiefs of Staff, Ministers of Defense, and the Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

Additional programming includes:

• Corporate Technical Presentations: A military technology presentation featuring over 59 domestic and international exhibitors.
• Defense Conferences: Sessions hosted by the Logistics Command, Training & Doctrine Command, Army Headquarters, and 27 other organizations to discuss the latest strategies and defense technology.
• Special Events: An opening ceremony and luncheon, a welcome dinner, VIP tours, and the Korea ASEAN+ International Forum on Logistics.

The exhibition is hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army (AROKA) and organized by MESSE ESANG. Exhibitor registration for the October event is currently open.